EVANESCENCE - The Bitter Truth
‘Without Darkness There Is No Light’ - Amy Lee
Written by: Jimmy Wah - Sense Music Media
EVANESCENCE has been making an impact on the world for nearly 20 years. Since the release of their debut album Fallen in 2003 the band went on to produce The Open Door in 2006 and self-titled Evanescence in 2011. Since then they released Synthesis in 2017, an orchestral selection of some of their top tracks which you may have been lucky enough to see live during its 2 years of touring prior to 2020. This reformation and unity strengthened the band and led to the first new music they’d written together in nearly a decade… and with its release on March 26, you’ll be lucky enough to hear it tomorrow!
In the distinctive style of Amy Lee, this album brings light from a place of darkness, speaking to the impermanence of who we are which is particularly relevant today. The challenges that led to the conception of The Bitter Truth have been magnified over the past year, something that EVANESCENCE had to endure as the band was separated by land and sea during the pandemic which only strengthened their resolve to create new music and bring it to the world. I’ve had a listen and I think it shows; you won’t be disappointed.
Pictured: Jen Majura, Will Hunt, Amy Lee, Tim McCord + Troy McLawhorn - EVANESCENCE
Photographer: Nick Fancher
Album Review
The album opens with Artifact The Turn. An uncomfortably haunting yet beautiful arrangement of gentle, staggered xylophonic tones like drops of water that are met by that crystalline voice we all love. With dissonant bending vocals singing words of golden skies and reflections, the speakers are met by keys that open into a soundscape of padded tones and synthesised textures. The mysterious sonic build up ends with a desperate vocal note that is enough to tap the base of your spine and pull you in.
What better way to meet that vocal note than with a hard hitting, chugging riff to assert its dominance? The second track of the album Broken Pieces Shine seems to do just that. The music grabs you by the chest and squeezes as the beautiful vocal phrasing dances over the top. Producer Nick Raskulinecz has yet again done a fantastic job at creating a wide open space for the music to fill completely, allowing for the dynamic range of heavy music met by operatic vocals to cradle the listener in a cinematic experience.
Moving into another kicking track, we are met with drums along with the open peal of a large bell. The first of the pre-released tracks on the album, Game Over features blazoned vocals, chunky bass and guitars that set a definitive pattern and push you into a rolling groove with a heightened state of expectation. Before you know it, the song launches into a skyward chorus with riffs that cleverly move independently of the voice. With very clever vocal melodies that pin the listener to the hook, hitting the stop button doesn’t feel like an option.
Yeah Right is the first transition into an unfamiliar arrangement. An up-beat pattern with cute, innocent vocals and effected bass tones that reminded me of MUSE, it seems to takes you by the hand and lure you to a corner of the garden before slapping you in the face with an exclamatory chorus that’s classically evocative. The beat remains consistently paced, giving the song a momentum that’s very easy to keep locked in your head. Something I must say I quite enjoy.
Feeding The Dark ventures back into the haunted arena with a gothic vocal reverb, glitched artifacts and a popping bass riff met by distorted guitar that feels very Queen of the Damned. The verse riff evolves this idea and takes us back to the turn of the millennium. In classic EVANESCENCE style, the chorus opens up into a powerful vocal proclamation that meets the compliments the music with precision as the music evolves to incorporate more familiar iconic elements that close out the song.
The first single release from the album Wasted on You is a beautiful expression of self-actualisation; recognition of what was, what is and moving forward. With the voice taking the lead alongside to assert its conviction, the piano acts as the perfect accompaniment to personalise the experience. This doesn’t stop the song from being given body by the creative use of deep bass and synthesised sound, which further expanded with explosive guitars and drums to make for a powerful and memorable track. Better Without You seems a continuation of the theme but with a far more immediately driven sound very identifiable of EVANESCENCE. They really hit their groove and make sure we know it.
Use My Voice breaks away from the intimate themes of personal experience and takes on a more inclusive perspective of today’s political landscape. Still maintaining the individual standpoint, the words “Don’t you speak for me” have a resonating impact amid a soundscape of a larger group. Pulling on the style we often see used by THIRTY SECONDS TO MARS, the effect of a collective sound of voices is used, calling out “Whether you like it or not”. This song feels like one of unity that’s widely relatable today.
Take Cover hits hard with a machine gun barrage of sound that slides into popping bass that bends along with the voice that has a very definitive hook in the chorus that I think is pretty difficult not to love. There is some awesome vocal techniques and effects in this song that hit in just the right way to make you say “Fuck Yeah!”
Perhaps the album’s only ballad, Far From Heaven is an extraordinarily evocative piece that holds off on the distortion. Piano, strings, beats and waves pull us through a journey alongside Amy Lee singing of not wanting someone close to her to leave. In the context of the loss of her brother last year it is an extremely moving piece that reminds me of songs like My Immortal.
I’m running out of words to describe how much I like this collection of songs. The Bitter Truth closes out with two more powerful songs that pull out all the tricks that make EVANESCENCE rock. Chunky riffs and powerful vocals in Part of Me, to and opening reminiscent of Bring Me To Life to close out the album, the arrangements feel so satisfying to listen to, I can’t recommend them enough. Oh did I mention that the chorus of Blind Belief is awesome. Yeah, like the rest of the album. Go listen!
Pictured: Jen Majura, Will Hunt, Amy Lee, Tim McCord + Troy McLawhorn - EVANESCENCE
Photographer: Nick Fancher
The Verdict
The Bitter Truth is a high impact album that speaks to the essence of our being right here and now. Haunting yet inspiring, passionate yet insightful, evocative yet enjoyable. This album ticks all the boxes of what we know as EVANESCENCE and adds a few more. In other words they nailed their comeback!
9/10
The Bitter Truth comes out through tomorrow through Sony BMG!
26 March 2021
